Modular storage container

ABSTRACT

A modular storage candle container includes a base and a lid with a candle disposed on said lid. Specifically, the lid is dimensioned and configured to receive the candle that is releasably held in the exterior of the lid. The candle may be a faux candle or a wax candle. When a wax candle is used, the candle is designed to have a convex base and a concave interior so when the wax melts, the wax is directed toward a central portion of the concave interior thereby extending the life of the candle. In other embodiments, the candle may be replaced with a memorabilia insert or modular insert. On an underside of the lid is an interior insert positioned to extend down and into the compartment when the lid is position over the base. The interior insert includes a holding device such as a basket, jewelry holder or pill dispenser.

PRIORITY AND RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/365,132, filed Jul. 2, 2010, entitled COMBINATION CONTAINER AND CANDLE, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/366,424, filed Jul. 21, 2010, entitled MODULAR STORAGE SYSTEM, and to U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/375,088, filed Sep. 17, 2010, entitled MODULAR STORAGE SYSTEM, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to storage containers. Specifically, the present invention relates to modular storage containers having dual functions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Storage containers exist for a variety of objects and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The options available in the realm of storage containers for personal hygiene products are practical but insipid. For instance, containers used to hold flushable wipes or hemorrhoid pads are white or colored plastic tubs having a lid. Such containers are easily recognizable these days especially when located in the bathroom. Containers for dentures, retainers likewise are stored in standard issued vessels that are also easily recognizable in the public.

What is desired is a discreet container with lid that can store a broad range of personal hygiene and related personal use products. A container is also desired that allows a user to position the container for convenient usage in plain view, while disguising the personal nature of the contents within the container. A container is further desired that has a modular attachment system of interchangable elements or exterior inserts on an exterior of the lid which includes a wide variety of externally visible elements such as faux-candles, live candles, LED candles, and memorabilia inserts. It is also desired that a container with lid include interior inserts for elements that suspend on an underside of the lid into the storage container. Such interior inserts include, but are not limited to a two-stage, drop-down denture storage basket that suspends dental appliances discreetly within the container with or without solution, a two-stage drop-down jewelry holder that suspends jewelry discreetly within the container with or without solution, and a multi-cavity pill dispenser that organizes and suspends pills discreetly, down within the interior of the container. It is further desired that an exterior portion of the storage container accept a variety of printed or dimensional over-wraps that conform to the exterior of the storage base, and change the overall look of the individual product.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A modular storage container provides a dual purpose container for discreetly storing items therein and publicly displaying or serving as a candle mount. The modular storage container includes a base and a lid with an insert disposed on said lid. Specifically, the lid is dimensioned and configured to receive the insert that is releasably held in the exterior of the lid. The insert may be a faux candle, a wax candle or any other insert types such as a memorabilia insert or modular insert. When a wax candle insert is used, the candle is designed to have a convex base and a concave interior so when the wax melts, the wax is directed toward a central portion of the concave interior thereby extending the life of the candle. On an underside of the lid is an interior insert positioned to extend down and into the compartment when the lid is positioned over the base. The interior insert includes a holding device such as a basket, jewelry holder or pill dispenser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1A is an exploded view of the modular storage container of the present invention showing an exterior insert, a lid, and a base.

FIG. 1B is an open view of an alternate embodiment of the modular storage container of the present invention showing a lid, and a base.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a wax candle insert of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a side view of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an empty base of a wax candle insert of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the modular storage container of the present invention showing a plurality of exterior inserts.

FIG. 5A is an exploded view of an alternate embodiment of the modular storage container of the present invention showing an interior insert showing the interior insert in an extended position.

FIG. 5B is a view the interior insert shown in FIG. 5A in an retracted position.

FIG. 6 shows the base of FIG. 1A with a sleeve able to be disposed on the exterior of the base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1A shows a modular storage container 100 having a base 150, a lid 130 and an a wax candle exterior insert 110 which is one embodiment of a number of exterior inserts 180, see FIG. 4. The base 150 has an open end 152 to permit access to a compartment 154 therein. The base 150 may have a grooved area 156 for receiving lid 130. Alternatively, the lid 130 can be press-fit to the base 150, as shown in FIG. 1A, screwed on to the base 150 or hinged to the base, see FIG. 1B. The lid 130 has a top exterior side defining a cradle 132 and an underside 134. The cradle 132 is dimensioned and configured to receive the exterior insert 110 while the underside 134 receives interior inserts. See FIG. 4. The lid 130 helps create a modular attachment system of interchangeable elements via the lid using the exterior inserts 110. The lid 130 can incorporate a wide variety of exterior inserts 180 including, but not limited to faux-candles, live candles, LED candles, and memorabilia inserts.

The exterior insert 110 shown in FIG. 1A is embodied as a wax candle insert 110. FIGS. 2A-C provide closer looks at the wax candle insert 110. The wax candle insert has an angled lead-in base 112 having an inner surface 116 opposite an outer surface 114. The inner surface is concave and the outer surface is convex. Disposed about the convex exterior 114 are legs 118 that support the base 112 on any surface and when within the cradle 132 of the lid 110. Wax is disposed within the concave inner surface 116 with a wick 122 being disposed in a central portion of said concave inner surface 116. FIG. 3 shows the lead-in base 112 without wax providing a better understanding of the concave inner surface 116 and how the wick 122 may be insertable therein during manufacturing. Here the wick 122 is positioned in a centermost portion of the base 112 and held in place with tabs located therein subsequently wax may be poured in the base 112. The angled lead-in shape of the base 112 permits melted wax to be directed along the sides of the concave inner surface 116 toward the central portion of said concave inner surface 116 as the wick 122 burns. This arrangement provides the benefit of extending the life of the wax candle insert 110. The wax candle insert 110 is just one example of exterior inserts 180 available for use in the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a number of exterior inserts 180 which may include and are not limited to a faux candle insert, an LED candle insert 126, a memorabilia insert 128 or a perfumed solid insert 124.

The underside 134 of the lid 130 has provisions to allow for a series of interior inserts 140 to hold elements and suspend the elements below the lid 130 and into the storage base 150 when the lid is placed on the base 150. See FIG. 5A-5B. The interior insert 140 is fixedly or removably attached to the underside 134 and has a stem 142 and a platform 144. The platform 144 provides a resting surface for any item and the stem 142 extends the platform 144 of the interior insert 140 down away from the lid 130 at a distance. The interior insert 140 permits a user to conceal any item from public view when the lid 130 is placed over the open end 152 of the base 150 and the interior insert 140 is disposed within the interior compartment 154 of the base 150.

The platform 144 of the interior insert 140 may include but is not limited to a two-stage, drop-down holder that suspends items within the base. For instance, the platform 144 may be a two-stage, drop-down holder being a denture storage basket, as shown in FIGS. 5A-5B, a jewelry holder, or a multi-cavity pill dispenser. FIG. 5A shows the dental basket in an extended position, while FIG. 5B shows the basket in a retracted position. The dental basket embodiment of the platform 144 is shown having an upper denture support 146 having a series of raised ridges and a lower denture support 148. The items held by the interior insert 140 within the base 150 may be held with or without a liquid solution. When the items are exposed to a solution, the platform 144 may include a vents to allow the item held by the interior insert 140 to be easily submerged in solution.

The exterior surface of the base 150 may be embellished, accept a variety of printed or dimensional over-wraps that conform to the exterior of the base 150 or retain graphics for advertisements, amusement, etc. purposes. FIG. 6 shows a graphic sleeve 190 that may be disposed on the exterior of the base 150. The embellishing of the exterior of the base 150 allows a user to change the overall look of the modular storage container 100 for reasons of product differentiation.

The present invention as described above provides a discreet storage container for a broad range of personal hygiene and related personal use products. The unique configuration of the invention allows the user to position the product for convenient usage in plain view, while disguising the personal nature of the contents within the container. While the present invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, those of normal skill in the art will appreciate the modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope and the spirit of the present invention. Such modifications and variations are envisioned to be within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A discreet storage unit comprising: a base, said base having a compartment and an open end; a lid, said lid having an exterior side and an underside, said exterior side defining a cradle, said lid being dimensioned and configured to cover said open end of said base in a first position and expose said open end in an second position; and at least one exterior insert, said exterior insert being dimensioned and configured to be releasably held in said cradle of said lid.
 2. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein said compartment is dimensioned and configured to receive personal use products.
 3. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein said exterior insert includes a candle, a faux candle, a memorabilia insert and a modular insert.
 4. The storage unit of claim 1, further comprising an interior insert, said interior insert being suspended from said underside of said lid and extending within said compartment when said lid is in said first position.
 5. The storage unit of claim 4, wherein said interior insert includes a basket, a holder, and a dispenser.
 6. The storage unit of claim 4, wherein said interior insert includes a denture storage basket, a jewelry holder, and a pill dispenser.
 7. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein said base has an exterior surface, said exterior surface includes graphics.
 8. The storage unit of claim 7, wherein said exterior surface includes a graphics compartment, said graphic compartment receiving a graphic sleeve therein.
 9. A discreet storage unit comprising: a base, said base having a compartment and an open end; a lid, said lid having an exterior side and an underside, said exterior side defining a cradle, said lid being dimensioned and configured to cover said open end of said base in a first position and expose said open end in an second position; and a candle, said candle being dimensioned and configured to be releasably held in said cradle of said lid.
 10. The storage unit of claim 9, wherein said candle has a base said base having an inner surface opposite an outer surface, said inner surface being concave and said outer surface being convex.
 11. The storage unit of claim 10, wherein legs are disposed on said outer convex surface, said legs supporting said candle within said cradle.
 12. The storage unit of claim 9, wherein said candle is a faux-candle.
 13. The storage unit of claim 9, wherein wax is retained in said concave inner surface with a wick disposed in a central portion of said concave inner surface, wherein as said wick burns melted wax is directed along sides of the concave inner surface to said central portion of said concave inner surface thereby extending the life of the candle.
 14. A discreet storage unit comprising: a base, said base having a compartment and an open end; a lid, said lid having an exterior side and an underside, said exterior side defining a cradle, said lid being dimensioned and configured to cover said open end of said base in a first position and expose said open end in an second position; at least one exterior insert, said exterior insert being dimensioned and configured to be releasably held in said cradle of said lid; and an interior insert, said interior insert being suspended from said underside of said lid and extending within said compartment when said lid is in said first position.
 15. The storage unit of claim 14, wherein said exterior insert includes a candle, a faux candle, a memorabilia insert and a modular insert.
 16. The storage unit of claim 14, wherein said interior insert includes a basket, a holder, and a dispenser.
 17. The storage unit of claim 14, wherein said interior insert includes a denture storage basket, a jewelry holder, and a pill dispenser.
 18. The storage unit of claim 15, wherein said candle has a base said base having an inner surface opposite an outer surface, said inner surface being concave and said outer surface being convex.
 19. The storage unit of claim 18, wherein wax is retained in said concave inner surface with a wick disposed in a central portion of said concave inner surface, wherein as said wick burns melted wax is directed along sides of the concave inner surface to said central portion of said concave inner surface thereby extending the life of the candle. 